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骑上马朝磨坊主的家奔去，而小汉斯却步履踏酒地跟在后头。
“然而风暴却越来越大，雨下得像小河的流水，小汉斯看不清他面前的路面，也赶不上
马了。最后他迷了路，在一片沼泽地上徘徊着。这是一块非常危险的地方，到处有深深的水
坑，可怜的小汉斯就在那里给淹死了。第二天几位牧羊人发现了他的尸首，漂浮在一个大池
塘的水面上。这几位牧羊人把尸体抬回到他的小屋中。哀悼仪式的主持人。
“‘既然我是他最好的沥友，’磨坊主说，‘那么就应该让我站最好的位置。’所以他
穿一身黑色的长袍走在送葬队伍的最前边，还时不时地用一块大手帕抹着眼泪水。
“‘小汉斯的死的确对每一个人都是个大损失，’铁匠开口说。这时葬礼已经结束，大
家都舒适地坐在小酒店里，喝着香料酒，吃着甜点心。
“‘无论如何对我是个大损失，’磨坊主回答说，‘对了，我都快把我的小推车送给他
了，现在我真不知怎么处理它了。放在我家里对我是个大妨碍，它已经破烂不堪，就是卖掉
它我又能得到什么。我今后更要留心不再送人任何东西。大方总让人吃苦头。’”
“后来呢？”过了好一会儿河鼠说。
“什么，我讲完了，”红雀说。
“可是磨坊主后来又怎样了呢？’河鼠问道。
“噢！我真的不清楚，”红雀回答说，“我觉得我不关心这个。”
“很显然你的本性中没有同情的成分，”河鼠说。
“我恐怕你还没有弄明白这故事中的教义，”红雀反驳说。
“什么？”河鼠大声暖道。
“教义。”
“你的意思是说这故事里还有一个教义？”
“当然了，”红雀说。
“噢，说真的，”河鼠气呼呼地说，“我认为你在讲故事之前就该告诉我那个。如果你
那样做了，我肯定不会听你的了。其实，我该像批评家那样说一声‘呸！’但是，我现在可
以这么说了。”于是他就大喊了一声“呸！”，并挥舞了一下自己的尾巴，就回到了山洞中
去。
“你觉得河鼠怎么样？”母鸭开口问道，她用了好几分钟才拍打着水走上岸来。“他也
有好些优点，不过就我而言，我有一个母亲的情怀，只要看见那些铁了心不结婚的单身汉总
忍不住要掉下眼泪来。”
“我真担心我把他给得罪了，”红雀回答说，“事实是我给他讲了一个带教义的故事。”
“啊，这事总是很危险的，”母鸭说。
我完全同意她的话。
the devoted friend
one morning the old water…rat put his head out of his hole。 he had
bright beady eyes and stiff grey whiskers and his tail was like a
long bit of black india…rubber。 the little ducks were swimming
about in the pond； looking just like a lot of yellow canaries； and
their mother； who was pure white with real red legs； was trying to
teach them how to stand on their heads in the water。
〃you will never be in the best society unless you can stand on your
heads；〃 she kept saying to them； and every now and then she showed
them how it was done。 but the little ducks paid no attention to
her。 they were so young that they did not know what an advantage
it is to be in society at all。
〃what disobedient children！〃 cried the old water…rat； 〃they really
deserve to be drowned。〃
〃nothing of the kind；〃 answered the duck； 〃every one must make a
beginning； and parents cannot be too patient。〃
〃ah！ i know nothing about the feelings of parents；〃 said the water…
rat； 〃i am not a family man。 in fact； i have never been married；
and i never intend to be。 love is all very well in its way； but
friendship is much higher。 indeed； i know of nothing in the world
that is either nobler or rarer than a devoted friendship。〃
〃and what； pray； is your idea of the duties of a devoted friend？〃
asked a green linnet； who was sitting in a willow…tree hard by； and
had overheard the conversation。
〃yes； that is just what i want to know；〃 said the duck； and she
swam away to the end of the pond； and stood upon her head； in order
to give her children a good example。
〃what a silly question！〃 cried the water…rat。 〃i should expect my
devoted friend to be devoted to me； of course。〃
〃and what would you do in return？〃 said the little bird； swinging
upon a silver spray； and flapping his tiny wings。
〃i dont understand you；〃 answered the water…rat。
〃let me tell you a story on the subject；〃 said the linnet。
〃is the story about me？〃 asked the water…rat。 〃if so； i will
listen to it； for i am extremely fond of fiction。〃
〃it is applicable to you；〃 answered the linnet； and he flew down；
and alighting upon the bank； he told the story of the devoted
friend。
〃once upon a time；〃 said the linnet； 〃there was an honest little
fellow named hans。〃
〃was he very distinguished？〃 asked the water…rat。
〃no；〃 answered the linnet； 〃i dont think he was distinguished at
all； except for his kind heart； and his funny round good…humoured
face。 he lived in a tiny cottage all by himself； and every day he
worked in his garden。 in all the country…side there was no garden
so lovely as his。 sweet…william grew there； and gilly…flowers； and
shepherds…purses； and fair…maids of france。 there were damask
roses； and yellow roses； lilac crocuses； and gold； purple violets
and white。 columbine and ladysmock； marjoram and wild basil； the
cowslip and the flower…de…luce； the daffodil and the clove…pink
bloomed or blossomed in their proper order as the months went by；
one flower taking another flowers place； so that there were always
beautiful things to look at； and pleasant odours to smell。
〃little hans had a great many friends； but the most devoted friend
of all was big hugh the miller。 indeed； so devoted was the rich
miller to little hans； that be would never go by his garden without
leaning over the wall and plucking a large nosegay； or a handful of
sweet herbs； or filling his pockets with plums and cherries if it
was the fruit season。
〃real friends should have everything in mon； the miller used
to say； and little hans nodded and smiled； and felt very proud of
having a friend with such noble ideas。
〃sometimes； indeed； the neighbours thought it strange that the rich
miller never gave little hans anything in return； though he had a
hundred sacks of flour stored away in his mill； and six milch cows；
and a large flock of woolly sheep； but hans never troubled his head
about these things； and nothing gave him greater pleasure than to
listen to all the wonderful things the miller used to say about the
unselfishness of true friendship。
〃so little hans worked away in his garden。 during the spring； the
summer； and the autumn he was very happy； but when the winter came；
and he had no fruit or flowers to bring to the market； he suffered
a good deal from cold and hunger； and often had to go to bed
without any supper but a few dried pears or some hard nuts。 in the
winter； also； he was extremely lonely； as the miller never came to
see him then。
〃there is no good in my going to see little hans as long as the
snow lasts； the miller used to say to his wife； for when people
are in trouble they should be left alone； and not be bothered by
visitors。 that at least is my idea about friendship； and i am sure
i am right。 so i shall wait till the spring es； and then i
shall pay him a visit； and he will be able to give me a large
basket of primroses and that will make him so happy。
〃you are certainly very thoughtful about others； answered the
wife； as she sat in her fortable armchair by the big pinewood
fire； very thoughtful indeed。 it is quite a treat to hear you
talk about friendship。 i am sure the clergyman himself could not
say such beautiful things as you do； though he does live in a
three…storied house； and wear a gold ring on his little finger。
〃but could we not ask little hans up here？ said the millers
youngest son。 if poor hans is in trouble i will give him half my
porridge； and show him my white rabbits。
〃what a silly boy you are！ cried the miller； i really dont know
what is the use of sending you to school。 you seem not to learn
anything。 why； if little hans came up here； and saw our warm fire；
and our good supper； and our great cask of red wine； he might get
envious； and envy is a most terrible thing； and would spoil
anybodys nature。 i certainly will not allow hans nature to be
spoiled。 i am his best friend； and i will always watch over him；
and see that he is not led into any temptations。 besides； if hans
came here； he might ask me to let him have some flour on credit；
and that i could not do。 flour is one thing； and friendship is
another； and they should not be c